Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Just a little scientific curiousness  on whether or not you would of attempted transition without the internet being around. I think in my case the psychologists I encountered in life for other reasons wouldn't of shown me the path which eventually I did on my own without having the light shown on me. I got help when the choice was life or death for which could of been long ago  dealt with through proper guidance. The internet shown a bright light on the path I needed and led me to a great oasis of hope.

Yes.... And your point is.......?

Just ruffling feathers though.

The internet is my life. It was my second parent. I wish I was smarter when I was young though.

Access to information, experiences, resources and people like us has been a huge part of my transition.  It is hard to put a value on this medium for sharing, caring and creating community.  I have made many dear friends and we get exposure to people and opinions from around the world.

I found the Internet in 1998, and the first thing I did was research transsexualism (the word transgender wasn't being used then), if it wasn't for the Internet I would not have been able to transition.

it tickles when my feathers get ruffled. I was just thinking there was no where for me to turn to. I was in therapy for an assortment of things , but the core issue that needed the most attention was never dealt with, it was only through the internet did the path unveil itself.

Finding information, resources and support on the internet was, and still is, a very important part of my journey.  I don't know if I would have been able to unravel the tangled web of my denial and dissociation from the other problems of my life and allow my true self to emerge if it wasn't for the use of the internet.  I found this site, my therapist and other doctors by using the internet.  I told my kids when I came out to them that I was transitioning that they should be very grateful that the information, resources and support that is available today wasn't available when I was their age.  Because if it had been available, we probably wouldn't be having the conversation we were.   

It didn't exist when I transitioned. We had this thing called CompuServe that charged $6 an hour. There were a dozen of us that posted with any regularity in real time in a "chat room." It was pretty primitive at 110 bytes per second. I always had to wait for the text to catch up with my typing.

It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago.

Cindi

Quote from: Cindi Jones on December 08, 2015, 07:14:08 PM
It didn't exist when I transitioned. We had this thing called CompuServe that charged $6 an hour. There were a dozen of us that posted with any regularity in real time in a "chat room." It was pretty primitive at 110 bytes per second. I always had to wait for the text to catch up with my typing.

It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago.

Cindi

It wasn't When I took my first computer course we were using punch cards. I remember the day the newspaper reported they were going public with the internet. up till then if was for the use of the federal labs and academics..

Quote from: kittenpower on December 08, 2015, 06:40:49 PM
I found the Internet in 1998, and the first thing I did was research transsexualism (the word transgender wasn't being used then), if it wasn't for the Internet I would not have been able to transition.

This is similar to my experience. I got my first computer in 1995.  I had a a lightening-fast 14.4 kbaud modem :0.  You were more resourceful than me, Karen.  It never occurred to me to look for that kind of stuff online.  I can't even remember what I used for a search engine. Yahoo?  Alta Vista?  Googol didn't even exist then.  Neither did the term "transgender", at least as far as I knew.  I went to the University libraries, and pursued through the stacks, looking at the psych and medical journals. As near as I could tell, I might have been a transsexual, but that seemed to involve surgical intervention, so I just didn't know what I was, lol.

Fast-forward 20 years, and wow, the internet has rocked my world, finding sites like this, and stuff like FetLife - so many lifestyles, so much life! It was okay to be different. Everyone has a voice, and a forum, it seems. It's been wonderful.

Terri



 

Without the internet I would have been lost and I don't want to think where my mental state would have been without the information on medical, cultural and reaching out to my community.

I grew up without the internet and maybe ignorance of TG allowed me to create my image of the alpha male persona and survive until the internet exposed my life of deception.

As one of the other girls mentioned, as soon as I figured out how to use it I was all over the trans items available at the time.  This would have be in the early  to mid 90's.  It was on one of Marci Bowers websites that I saw my first photos of the surgical results that were being done at that time.  It's likely that my choice of a Thai surgeon was influenced by that early exposure.

before the internet , the only access I had to information was at a Catholic University library that I lived by, there were few books even though  the school had a medical school and the picture in the books made it look like they were published by a Dr. Frankenstein.

It wasnt invented until 25 years after transition - and five years after completing srs! So no effect at all.

I thought the UK had super secret advanced internet technology for all its citizens. I think its called Torchwood under the directive from Queen Elizabeth I or was it Queen Victoria?

I remember reading about 'men' who wanted to change their gender in a magazine in a barbers shop at a very young age. It was a light bulb moment! It meant I wasn't the only person in the world who was like me.

The internet arrived way after that, maybe (gulp)35 years after that!

Quote from: Cindy on December 09, 2015, 02:06:32 AM
I remember reading about 'men' who wanted to change their gender in a magazine in a barbers shop at a very young age. It was a light bulb moment! It meant I wasn't the only person in the world who was like me.

The internet arrived way after that, maybe (gulp)35 years after that!

for me the light bulb burst with Christine Jorgenson

Internet was a huge part of my transition. It answered many questions for me.

Quote from: Maybebaby56 on December 08, 2015, 07:47:34 PM
This is similar to my experience. I got my first computer in 1995.  I had a a lightening-fast 14.4 kbaud modem :0.  You were more resourceful than me, Karen.  It never occurred to me to look for that kind of stuff online.  I can't even remember what I used for a search engine. Yahoo?  Alta Vista?  Googol didn't even exist then.  Neither did the term "transgender", at least as far as I knew.  I went to the University libraries, and pursued through the stacks, looking at the psych and medical journals. As near as I could tell, I might have been a transsexual, but that seemed to involve surgical intervention, so I just didn't know what I was, lol.

Fast-forward 20 years, and wow, the internet has rocked my world, finding sites like this, and stuff like FetLife - so many lifestyles, so much life! It was okay to be different. Everyone has a voice, and a forum, it seems. It's been wonderful.

Terri

Oh, I'm having so much fun!
Well Barbie, we're just getting started

Honestly, I was so clueless and outer directed that even with the internet I didn't realize what was going on with me until I had to research it for someone else. I became so morose and dissatisfied, (although I couldn't tell you with what), that I began to think it was time to pull the plug. Doing that research on the internet to understand a trans client led me to understanding myself. It wasn't until I found Susan's and gained all of your support and encouragement that I found out what being trans really meant to me and gained the bravery to take the leap and struggle out of my sad state. Therefore the internet was and is key to both my transition and my survival. Thank you all!

Without the internet I never would have learned that there were other people like me, and there was a name for the horrible discomfort I had with my body. Without the internet I never would have learned that transition is possible. Without the internet it is highly likely I would not be alive today.

No effect on my 'transition'.  Without the internet I would not have met my husband -- oooh that love of my life how I LOVE him so!!!  I've also made some wonderful online friends because of it.  And I would not have discovered Susans Place.

It is very important to me.  I've been reflecting on this a lot lately cause I have considered shutting my account for privacy reasons but this has been my support system.  The place where I can share stuff, vent, get advice, connect with others in the same boat and get to be treated/percieved as female.  I need this cause transitioning alone is very hard and there is a lot I continue to need help and guidance as I'm very lost and terrified.  Talking about it and getting encouragement helps me maintain hope that I can get through this and that one day I can be happy and have the life I want.

Prior to my transition it was important as well.  It helped me understand that there are many others going through the same thing and made me feel better about being trand.  Also it gave me hope to bligs and watch vlogs on youtube to see that there is a light at the end if the tunnel.  It gave me hope that thete can be a better tomorrow.

The Internet was around when I transitioned but still in its infancy in many ways as to the number and type of websites that were available.  I did use a forum back in 2000 to meet other people like myself.  It allowed me to see that I was not alone and many of those people were not unlike me in that they too were just trying to live their life the best that they could.  The connections I made on the forum provided me information as to which doctors were best for my FFS and GRS at that time.  Oddly, even after all the years that have passed, I am still very good friends with two other women that I met on that forum, both of which successfully transitioned and today have great marriages and live totally stealth.  Today, the Internet allows me the opportunity to help others who are transitioning or considering that step while remaining, for the most part, stealth.

There wasn't an internet here in New Zealand when I transitioned so it had no effect.  I learned about folk like me for the first time from Caroline Cossey's book.

The internet has been great now that I'm older and don't get out so much due to illness because it enables me to get to know and talk with like minded people whom I wouldn't otherwise meet.

with internet i found a free psyco for the subjects..but also a girlfriend who opened the pandora box...

The internet was useful for me to find out what steps to take and where to take them, and to speak with other people who have been through it, but it had no impact on making me want to transition. I would've done it anyway, although with a bit more difficulty!

I got rid of my denial mindset with webcomics, I read my first valid information about being transgender at TV Tropes, and I gained a better understanding and a chatting partner from here.
So, I would say the Internet has had some influence over my transition.

It was a great help. It allowed me to find a clinic, therapist and ultimately my surgeon! It has allowed me to connect with others through this forum and to exchange ideas and knowledge.

While the internet has been a blessing, at the same time it has allowed others to use it to harm people and to pursue illegal things with a far greater security than ever.

However, I believe it's been more good than evil but that all depends on whom you ask.

Love,
Clare

I would have eventually transitioned without it, but it showed me the how, what, when, where, and why, in one fell swoop

In terms of support and information, very helpful. In terms of making the decision, no help at all since it was always pretty certain :P

It's been incredibly  useful for me . Just being on this site for the past two years it opened a whole world of talking to people going through the same thing. My view of the transgender community is so much richer through talking on Susan's and being part of the news staff I learn so much everyday. My mind would of only known the Jerry Springer part of the trans community without the internet.

it not only helped me but also my dad. he did so much research and it helped him understand more

I was sitting in front of my computer when I realized I was trans. I think it was something about SRS and it suddenly occurred to me I could do that. It all blew up in that moment and life's never been the same since.

I knew about it before, from Internet and books, but somehow it was all in that moment. I think if Internet as today had existed when I was young I'd have started young. And the information available on line has made it all relatively easy. I don't want to think what it would have been like before that.

I discovered the Internet in I think 1996 and the first thing I searched for was sex change. Until then I had no idea that I wasn't the only one. I was pretty surprised to find a decent amount of information on it which led me to irc channels, support groups, and shear terror from the cost.

If I hadn't found anything on the net, I probably would have continued to hide it in secret for the rest of my life.